Folding mechanism



Feb. e, 1934. H HOWE 1,945,899

FOLDING MECHAN SM Filed NOV. 12, 1951 /'f Il' 22 J9 sa 6 5 ze; 52

IN VEN TOR. wap Ho WE Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE FOLDING MEOHANISM Application November 12, 1931 Serial No. 574,509

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a folding mechanism for card tables, banquet tables, benches, beds, and other articles.

The primary object of my invention is to` provide a folding means whereby the folding and unfolding movements of the supporting legs of the article are automatic in that the movement of any one leg results in immediate synchronous movement of all the other legs.

Another object of my invention lies in the provision of such a folding means which involves the use of pivoted link members connecting certain of the legs of the article through the means of a movable common pivot member whereby such synchronous movement is made possible.

Still another object of my invention lies in the provision of a folding means for two oppositely disposed pairs of legs, said pairs being connected by link mechanism having a common movable pivot member whereby movement of one pair is transmitted to the other pair.

A further object of my invention includes the provision of a guide means for the movable common pivot member, said guide means being disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of the legs.

A further object of my invention is to provide a synchronizing folding mechanism for the legs which includes two pairs of links connecting the legs, each pair being provided with a common movable pivot, said common movable pivot mem.- bers being guided in their movement and arranged to move towards each other and to substantially the center of the supporting surface when the legs are unfolded, and away from each other when the legs are folded. l

A still further object of my invention lies in the provision of a novel form of catch or fastening means for releasably locking the legs in both folded and unfolded positions.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and operation will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card table illustrative of the articles to which my folding mechanism is applicable.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a table illustrating in full lines the folding mechanism with the legs in unfolded position and in dotted lines in folded position.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the table and illustrating the guiding means for the pivot members. y

Figure 4 is a detail view taken 'on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail View illustrating the pivotal connection between the link members and the legs when said legs are in unfolded position.

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the link connection with the legs in folded position.

This invention is an improvement upon my prior invention patented in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,679,426, dated August '7, 1928, Folding table.

It should be clearly understood atV the outset that the folding mechanism herein illustrated, described, and claimed, has a wide and varied application to many articles which it may be desired to fold. For illustrative purposes only the invention has been applied to a table such as a cardA table but it will be clear that the same is equally applicable to-banquet and other types of tables, benches, luggage stands, beds, and many'other articles.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 refers to a supportingvsurface, in this case a table top, which may have the usual side frame members 2.

Hinged to the underside of the supporting sur-l face 1 and at opposite sides thereof, as at 3, are the cross pieces or connecting members 4 and 5. Secured to the cross piece 4 are the legs 6`and 7 and secured to the cross `piece 5 are the legs Band 9. Obviously therefore, the legs 6 and 'I` constitute one pair, connected by the cross arm 4 so that such legs fold together as a pair by virtue ofthe hinges 3. Likewise the legs 8 and 9 being connected by the cross piece 5 fold as a pair by' virtue of the hinges 3. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the pairs of legs fold toward and away from each other. In this particular illustration the legs 6 and 7 are offset inwardly so as to lie between the'legs 8 and 9 when in folded position. It will be clear, however, that if desired, the legs of the opposite pairs may be arranged in staggered relation.

Pivotally connected at one end to the leg 6, as by means of the pivot pin 10, is a link 11, and pivoted at one end as by means of the pin 12, to the adjacent leg 8 of the opposite pair, is a link 13. Pivoted at one end, as by means of the pivot pin 14, to the leg 7 is a link 15, and, pivoted at one end, as by means of the pivot pin 16, to the leg 9 is a link 17. For clearness of description and to definitely identify the particular legs hereafter referred to in the description and the claims, it

will be understood that legs 6 and 7 constitute one pair and that legs 8 and 9 another pair. Also that legs 6 and 8 are adjacent legs of the opposite pairs and legs 7 and 9 are adjacent legs of the opposite pairs. The term adjacent is particularly apt inasmuch as when the legs are in folded position, as shown in Figure 2, legs 6 and 8 are directly adjacent as are legs 7 and 9.

Disposed substantially centrally of the underside of the supporting surface 1 and between the legs of the table, is a guide member 18 suitably secured to the surface as by the screws 19, said guide member being positioned at an angle to the direction of movement of the legs. In the form shown this guide member 18 is positioned substantially parallel with the cross piece 4 and 5 of the pairs of legs, and consequently at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of the legs. This guide member 18 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 20 having a pair of longitudinal aligned slots 21 and 22, `the inner ends of said slots terminating in spaced relation substantially centrally of the guide member. Slidably mounted in the slot 21 is a pivot member 23 (see Figure 3) provided with a pin 24 extending through the slot 21 whereby said pivot member may be moved freely longitudinally of said slot. The pivot member 23 is provided at its depending edge with a lateral flange 25 to which is freely pivoted as at 26 the ends of the links l1 and 13.

Slidably mounted in the other slot 22, is also a pivot member 27 provided with a pin 28 extending through the slot 22'whereby the same is freely slidable longitudinally of the slot. This pivot member 27 is identical. with the pivot member 23 and is provided with the lateral flange 29 to which is pivoted by means of the pin 30 the ends of the links 15 and .17.

It will be noted particularly with reference to Figure 2 that the pin 28 rcarried by the slidable pivot member 27 and extending through the slot 22 projects through beyond the opposite side of the flange-20 ofthe guide member and serves as a fastening means for a spring catch .member 31 of the leaf spring type normally lying flat against the side of the iiange 20. Av second pin 32 also passes through'the spring leaf 31 and the slot 22 whereby said latch is prevented from rotation but is 'free to slide along the flange 20 together with the pivot member 27.

One end of the spring latch 31 is provided with anopening 33, andas will be noted clearly from FigureY 2;'the pin 24 carried by the pivot member 23 and extending through the slot 21, is shouldered adjacent the opposite side of the flange 20 as at 34 whereby such pin and the pivot member 23 are guided in the slot 21. The reduced end of the pin 24 projects beyond the shouldered portion 34 and serves as a locking member together with'the opening 33 in the spring catch when the pivot member is at its innermost position and with the pin 24 at the inner end of the slot 22. In thisposition the legs are in unfolded position and are thus releasably locked in such position. The spring catch'31 is provided'at its end adjacent the opening 33 with a bent finger piece 35 by means of which it may be readily sprung outwardly to release the pin 24 and permit the sliding movement of the pivot member 23 and consequently of with an opening 36' adapted when the legs are in' 'i folded position and the pivot member 27 is at its outer limit of movement in the slot 22 to snap over a pin 37 formed upon the flange 20, as shown clearly in Figure 2. This end of the spring leaf is also formed with a bent finger piece 38 whereby it may be sprung outwardly out of locking position with the pin 37. Thus the pivot members 23 and 27 are releasably locked in both the limits of their movement, namely, in both the folded and unfolded position of the legs.

By virtue of the foregoing construction it will Ybelclear that if any one of the legs is moved either to or from folded position, all of the other legs will be synchronously moved therewith by virtue of this link connection between adjacent legs oi the pairs through the means of slidable pivot members in the guide member 18. Movement of either leg of one pair is communicated to the other leg of the same pair by virtue of the cross pieces 4 and 5 and movement of either leg of one pair is communicated to the adjacent leg of the opposite pair by means of the common pivot member for the links connecting such adjacent legs.

It will be noted particularly that the links connecting adjacent legs of the pairs, by virtue of the common pivot for the inner ends of such links, form in both cases an angle between such adjacent legs. The angles thus formed by these connected links serve to render the communicated movement free and smooth through the medium of the pivot members sliding in the guide member. This results in a very easy and quickly operable folding mechanism for the legs.

It will be noted with reference to Figures 5 and 6 that the ends of the links which are pivotedY to the legs, are provided with bent flattened portions 39 provided with relatively large openings 40 through which the pivot pins extend. These pivot pins aie so positioned within the legs as to leave a substantial amountof play between the heads of the pins and the legs. The bent portions 39 are at such an angle that when the legs are in runfolded position, the outer end of the bent portion 39 engages the head of the pin and the inner portion thereof engages the leg, and in such position, binds on thepin 10. When, however, the legs are moved to folded position, the play between the head of the pin and the leg and the enlarged opening in the bent portion 39,-

together with the angle at which such portion is bent, permits a locking movement of the end of the link on the pin 10 so that in such folded position, the outer end of the bent portion 39y engages the leg and the inner portion thereof engages the head of the pin, and in such position, binds on the pin l0. The result of this arrangement is that in both the folded and unfolded positions of the legs, a certain amount of frictional engagement between the links, pins and legs is produced which serves as an additional holding means for maintaining the legs in both their folded and unfolded positions, and in addition eliminates play between the links and pms.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that I have provided a simple and economical folding mechanism which synchronizes the folding movement of the legs and which produces a smooth, even and easily operable folding means. It will be clear that by virtue of the link connection between the adjacent legs of the opposite pairs, that the folding of one pair, using either leg for the purpose, results in simultaneous and synchronous folding of the other pair. The opposite pairs are thus connected by an angularly disposed pivoted link mechanism and it will be obvious that the folding mechanism is operable either with one or both of the pairs of connecting links for the adjacent legs of the opposite'pairs. The use of both pairs of links 11--13 and 15-17 lends greater stability to the structure than if one pair were omitted.

Of course, changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not limit myself therefore, to the exact form herein shown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the

legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a link pivoted at one end to a leg of one pair, a second link pivoted at one end to the adjacent leg or" the other pair, and a common movable pivot means for the opposite ends of said links whereby movement of a leg of either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs.

2. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a link pivoted at one end to a leg of one pair, a second link pivoted at one end to the adjacent leg of the other pair, a common movable pivot means for the opposite ends 0f said links whereby movement of a leg of either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs, and means for guiding the movement of said common pivot means.

3. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a link pivoted at one end to a leg of one pair, a second link pivoted at one end to the adjacent leg of the other pair, a common movable pivot means for the opposite ends of said links whereby movement of a leg of either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs, and means for guiding the movement of said common pivot mean-s, said guiding means being so disposed that the movement of said common pivot means is in a path at an angle to the direction oi movements of said legs.

4. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being ioldable toward and away from each other, and connected together by links pivoted at one end to each of said legs, the links pivoted to the adjacent legs having common pivot means for their opposite ends, whereby movement of a leg of either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs.

5. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, and connected together by links pivoted at one end to each of said legs, the links pivoted to the adjacent legs having common pivot means for their opposite ends, whereby movement of a leg of either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs, said common pivot means being movable, and means for guiding the movement thereof.

6. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, and connected together by links pivoted at one end to each of said legs, the links pivoted to the adjacent legs having common pivot means for their opposite ends, whereby movement of a leg ofV either pair will result in synchronous movement of both pairs, said common pivot means being movable, and means for guiding the movement thereof, said movement being at an angle to the direction of movement of said legs.

7. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected forcommon movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, a pivot member slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to oneieg oi one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to said pivot member, whereby movement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs.

8. Folding mechanism comprising asupport-` ing surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away fromeach other, a guide member on said surface positioned at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, a pivot member slidably mounted on said member, links pivotedzat one end to one legof one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to said pivot member, Wherebymovement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs, saidwlinks and said pivot member being so disposed as to form an angle between said adjacent legs in all positions of said legs.

9. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being 130 pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot 135 members, whereby movement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs.

10. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the 140 legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of 145 movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends Vto one of said pivot 15tmembers, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, saidother links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, whereby movement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs, said links and said pivot members being so disposed as to form angles between said adjacent legs in all positions thereof.

11. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned between said pairs, and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, whereby movement of a leg of either pair, results in synchronous movement of both pairs, said pivot members being so arranged as to move toward each other and to a point adjacent the center of the surface when the legs are unfolded.

12. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guidemember on said surface positioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot .members, whereby movement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs, said pivot members being so arranged as to move toward each other and to a point adjacent the center of the surface when the legs are unfolded, and means for releasably locking said pivot members against movement when said legs are in unfolded position.

13. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, whereby movement of a leg of either pair results in synchronous movement of both pairs, said pivot members being so arranged as to move toward each other when the legs are unfolded, and away from each other as the legs are folded, and means for releasably locking said pivot members against movement when said legs are in both folded and unfolded positions.

. HAROLD HOWE. 

